Soylent took a big step toward the casual consumer market today,
opening pre-orders on its 2.0
product, which ditches the original powdered form in favor of
bottles. These recyclable bottles each represent one fifth of a
scientifically balanced daily meal plan, and can keep for up to a
year unrefrigerated.

The new bottles will sell for $2.42 (per 400 calories), meaning
to fully replace food you would have to pay $12.10 per day.
The powder form, which will still be for sale, costs $2.00 per
400 calories.

"Shipping around water is a little inefficient," Soylent creator
Rob Rhinehart admitted to
The Verge. But it has a pretty clear benefit. The original
Soylent required its users to go through the entire ritual of
preparing it from the powder. This may have been a plus for some
early adopters, who were drawn to the DIY feel of “hacking
nutrition.”

But for the casual user, who just wants to use Soylent
every once in a while to replace a meal, it’s a hassle. If you
don’t have time to cook, you might be annoyed at having to
prepare Soylent.

And that isn’t the only way Soylent is going after the less
hardcore crowd. The new formula also has an increased soy protein
content, a move to help ease digestion. Some
early adopters reported uncomfortable bloating and gas.

Soylent

Soylent has also begun to incorporate algae into its formula in a
big way, using algal oil for half its fat content,
The Verge reports. According to Soylent’s website, this is
partially a nod toward conservation. By synthesizing algae in
bioreactors (rather than traditional farms), Soylent hopes to
“conserve enormous quantities of natural resources while
providing energy and essential fatty acids.”

Soylent raised
around $20 million in January at a
$100 million valuation, and the new formula shows a desire to
expand its reach. Soylent 2.0 embodies the push and pull between
appealing to the broader consumer market and keeping the focus on
Soylent’s mission: to provide an affordable and ethical method of
nutrition.